Chapter Two #2
I smile at her and back away towards the homestead. “It is my birthday, so what I say goes and I say I’m getting more chocolate.” With that, I turn and head towards the big yellow house. It's a house that will soon be too small for the amount of babies that will be around in a few months.
Maybe I should offer to move out. I can drive over every morning and drive back every night, and Scarlett has been bugging me about wanting to get an apartment together so she can get some space from her brothers.
It’s not my favorite idea, and I know I would miss living here like crazy, but I would do it if it was what was best for everyone.
After grabbing another package of chocolate bars from the counter, I turn and run smack into what feels like a brick wall, staring straight ahead until I look up, way up, and see just what, or who I ran into.
“Whoa there, Georgie girl.” The timber of Wyatt’s low voice reaches me and I’m instantly comforted and turned on in equal measure.
Every inch of him is pure muscle with his arms, chest, and legs straining against his clothing.
Wyatt’s eyes light up as he looks at me, and I wonder if I have a big smear of chocolate or something on my face to garner all this attention.
“I’m glad I got a moment alone with you,” he says, and my first response is to look around for some hidden cameras or something because there is no way Wyatt Landry is happy to be alone with me.
“You are?” I ask, my voice a pitch higher than normal. “Why?”
Wyatt chuckles lightly and ducks his head, looking a little shy for the first time ever in life. “I, uh,” he stammers as he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a purple envelope. “I wanted to give you your birthday present.”
“Oh,” I say, smiling up at him. In addition to the spa day from Scarlett, I got a couple of books and a gift card to a boutique downtown.
I just assumed Wyatt chipped in for one of those, so knowing he thought of me on his own has a warm, gooey feeling settling in my stomach. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
Wyatt looks downright offended at that and scoffs at me. “I may not be able to do much, but I can get you a birthday present,” he says gruffly. “Least I can do.”
I shrug a shoulder because when you grow up with nothing, you learn to expect nothing. “No, the least you can do is nothing at all, so this is something special,” I tell him as I rip open the envelope and peek inside.
My fingers reach in and pull out a leather bracelet.
It’s made of a half a dozen thin strings of leather that have been woven and braided together, and a small charm sits in the middle.
“This is beautiful.” I slip it over my wrist and smile down at the loveliest present I’ve ever gotten. “Is it a bee?”
Wyatt nods and grabs my wrist, turning the bracelet over. Each touch of his skin to mine sends another spark of desire through my body. When I look up into Wyatt’s eyes, they are a darker brown that normal. Does he feel this too? Probably not, but a girl can dream.
“It’s a honey bee. You’re always buzzing around, taking care of everyone, and you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever known, so it seemed like a good choice.”
The smile I beam up at him could light up a whole city. “I love it,” I tell him, sincerely. I love you, too, is there on the tip of my tongue as well, but I don’t want to ruin a beautiful moment with an ill-timed confession. “Thank you, Wyatt.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, his hand reaching up to tuck some hair behind my ear. “I’m glad you like it. I was worried you would think it was stupid or something.”
My brow furrows and I give Wyatt a stern look. “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit most of the time. You’re smart, you work hard,” I tell him, holding up the bracelet that rests on my wrist. “And you’re incredibly thoughtful. You’re a great guy, Wyatt.”
The tips of Wyatt’s ears turn pink and he rubs the back of his neck. “Thanks,” he says, shooting a smile in my direction. “You know, you look really nice today, Georgie.”
My cheeks heat and I shake my head, both in denial of what he said and to clear a bit of the shock from my mind.
Did Wyatt Landry say I look nice? My face is normally free of make-up and my light brown hair is usually tied in two braids, but after our day at the spa, I look ready for a night out with smoky eyeshadow and my hair in loose waves. That must be what he’s noticing.
“It’s just from the salon. They can make anyone look nice,” I tell him, running a self-conscious hand over my hair.
Wyatt snags my hand and brings it down, but doesn’t drop it.
His head moves from side to side slowly.
“No. It’s all you,” he says, stepping closer to me, causing my head to tilt way back as I try to meet his gaze.
“You always look nice.” His eyes dart back and forth as they look into mine. “You’re always beautiful.”
With my free hand, I reach up shakily and touch Wyatt’s chest. Maybe he does feel this too.
Maybe I wasn’t so dumb to hope for something with him.
The next thing I know, I’m being backed up against the counter and Wyatt’s mouth is on me.
His lips are full, and warm as they slide against mine and once I recover from the shock of ‘holy crap, Wyatt Landry is kissing me,’ I join in, sliding my tongue against his lips.
When he parts on a groan and drives his tongue into my mouth, I realize that every little kiss I’ve had before now was nothing compared to the real thing, and this is definitely the real thing. My hand moves to cup Wyatt’s jaw, but as soon as I touch his face, he’s pulling away.
Looking over at Wyatt, you would think that he just performed the worst action on the planet or something if the pained look on his face is any indication.
“I-I’m so sorry, Georgie. I never should have done that,” he says, his voice a little shaky, his eyes looking everywhere but at me.
After a minute, his expression clears and he laughs a little.
“I guess I had a little too much to drink tonight.”
My heart sinks at his words and I blink back the tears that form almost immediately.
“Right. Of course,” I say, looking down at myself.
My jeans are dirty and cling to my thick thighs, and I’m wearing a sweater that’s about a size too small for my bigger body, a body a man like Wyatt could never want. “Why else would you have kissed me?”
I pass the box of chocolate bars over to him and smile as best as I can while my heart shatters in two.
“Can you take those outside for me? I have a bit of a headache and think I’ll head off to bed.
” Wyatt frowns and reaches for me, but I back away towards the staircase.
“Thanks,” I tell him before my feet carry me up the steps as fast as they can, tears streaming down my face in earnest now.
When I get to my room, I shut and lock the door, knowing that Scarlett will come in if I don’t.
As best friends, we don’t have a lot of boundaries, but we know enough that when the door is locked, it means we want privacy, even from each other.
Ashamed of how stupid I’ve been, I sit on the end of my bed and look around my room.
There are some pictures here and there, but they’re all of me and Scarlett, no one else.
“What am I even doing?” I ask myself. My life has been about surviving my childhood, and after that it’s been about taking care of a family that doesn’t even really need me anymore.
Sawyer, Brooks, and Mav all have their wives to look after them now, and Wyatt just made it very clear how he feels about me.
Standing up and walking over to my closet, I pull out my suitcase and start packing my things.
Scarlett will miss me when I’m gone, but she’ll understand too.
She’s been wanting to get out and spread her wings for a while now, and while I would be more than happy to take her with me wherever I go, I can’t have ties to the Landry’s right now.
Where Scarlett goes, they will eventually follow.
I need to get over my crush on Wyatt, and I can’t very well do that if he’s still around all the time.
When I’m finished packing, I set my things down by the door. If I try to leave while anyone is awake, they’ll never let me go. As much as I love them for their loyalty, I need to do this. It’s time to take care of myself, even if that means doing the one thing I never thought I would do: leave.